Oar-lock



(No Model.)

W. R. BRIGGS.

OARLOGK. No. 394,639. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

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l'm' j w UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

lVARREN R. BRIGGS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

OAR-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,639, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed September 5, 1888. Serial No. 284,596. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VARREN R. BRIGGS, a

.citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven` tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in oar-locks and means for securing the same within their bearings as against accidental displacement; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements such as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved oarlock and the means for securing the same within its bearing; Fig. 2, a detail of the thole-pin, embodying a slight modification of the locking device; and Fig. 3, a central sec* tion of the same, showing the t-hole in its proper position within its bearing.

Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures.

Heretofore the usual way of securing oarlocks was by chain or cord; but this was disadvantageous, in that said chain or cord was liable to kink, and also to cause considerable annoyance in applying and removing the oarlock; also, the thole-pin has been split and enlarged at the end, so as to afford a springpin adapted to lock within the socket; but

this latter construction causes so much friction against the socket as to seriously interfere with the free swivel movement of the pin in rowing. These disadvantages I obviate as follows:

A is the oar-lock proper, which I prefer to cast with rib and bead a l), respectively, thus combining strength and lightness.

B is the thole-pin, which may be cast integral with the lock proper or formed of a separate piece and secured thereto in any wellknown manner. This pin is hollow, as clearly shown, thus further decreasing the weight of the completed oar-lock.

D is a pin passing through the thole, and E is a spring-wire coiled about said pin in such manner that the free ends of said spring extend down and beyond said thole. The ends of this spring terminate in shoulders or catches F for the purposes presently explained.

G is the usual escutcheon, adapted to be secured to the gunwale of the boat and provided with the socket lfl, into which latter the thole-pin is fitted.

The catches F in their distended position project beyond the thole and beneath the end of the socket, thus forming an obstruction to the withdrawal of said thole.

Instead of forming the thole-pin of tubing, as in Fig. l, said pin may consist of an ordinary shank slotted at I to receive t-he catchspring, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that to secure my improved oar-lock within its socket it is only necessary to place the ends of the spring within the socket and to exert` sufficient pressure to force the catches toward each other, when the thole-pin will readily pass within the socket and the ends of the spring will distend, so as to bring the catches beyond the thole and immediately beneath the socket, thus securely locking said thole as against accidental retraction.

To remove the oar-lock from its socket, thc catches are compressed by hand sufficiently to clear the end of said socket and the tholepin then withdrawn.

Vhile my improvement is applicable to any class of boat, it is especially adapted for use in connection with folding boats, outriggers, and the like, where lightness and convenience of manipulation are aimed at.

Having thus described Iny invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. In an oar-lock, the recessed thole-pin, in comliiination with a spring-catch secured therein and adapted to lock said pin within its socket, substantially as set forth.

2. In an oar-lock, the combination, with the socket, of the thole-pin carrying a spring adapted to lock automatically underneath said socket, whereby the oar-lock is secured as against retraction, substantially as shown, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN R. BRIGGS.

IV itn esses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, T. W. SMITH, Jr.

IOO 

